CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- This is an artist's conception of Space Exploration Technologies', or SpaceX, crewed Dragon capsule atop the company's Falcon 9 rocket under development for NASA's Commercial Crew Program, or CCP. The integrated system was selected for CCP's Commercial Crew Integrated Capability, or CCiCap, initiative to propel America's next human space transportation system to low Earth orbit forward. Operating under a funded Space Act Agreement, or SAA, SpaceX will spend the next 21 months completing its design, conducting critical risk reduction testing on its spacecraft and launch vehicle, and showcasing how it would operate and manage missions from launch through orbit and landing, setting the stage for a future demonstration mission. To learn more about CCP, which is based at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida and supported by NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, visit www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew. Image credit: SpaceX

Seen here are all the mission stickers for crewed launches under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program (CCP) that were placed on one of the Tesla Model X cars that carry astronauts from the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building to Launch Complex 39A at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. NASA’s SpaceX Crew-5 astronauts participated in a countdown dress rehearsal on Oct. 2, 2022, in preparation for the upcoming Crew-5 launch. SpaceX’s Crew Dragon Endurance spacecraft will carry NASA astronauts Nicole Aunapu Mann and Josh Cassada, Roscosmos cosmonaut Anna Kikina, and JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Koichi Wakata to the International Space Station for a science expedition mission as part of the agency’s CCP. Liftoff of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is targeted for noon EDT on Oct. 5, 2022, from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A.

Commercial Crew Program (CCP) Manager Steve Stich, left, and CCP Contract Officer Brian Hinerth raise the Crew-7 flag on Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023, near the countdown clock at the Press Site at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. In the background are other CCP employees. NASA astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Andreas Mogensen, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Satoshi Furukawa, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Konstantin Borisov will launch to the International Space Station aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket. Liftoff is targeted for 3:49 a.m. EDT Friday, Aug. 25, 2023, from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A. Crew-7 marks the first spaceflight for Moghbeli and Borisov, and the second for Mogensen and Furukawa.

Commercial Crew Program (CCP) Manager Steve Stich, left, and CCP Deputy Program Manager Ven Feng raise the Crew-7 flag on Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023, near the countdown clock at the Press Site at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. In the background are other CCP employees. NASA astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Andreas Mogensen, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Satoshi Furukawa, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Konstantin Borisov will launch to the International Space Station aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket. Liftoff is targeted for 3:49 a.m. EDT Friday, Aug. 25, 2023, from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A. Crew-7 marks the first spaceflight for Moghbeli and Borisov, and the second for Mogensen and Furukawa.

From left, Richard Jones, CCP (Commercial Crew Program) deputy program manager at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston; Steve Stich, program manager for CCP; Dana Hutcherson, CCP deputy program manager at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida; and Deb Cole, CCP technical manager, pose with the agency’s SpaceX Crew-9 mission flag near the countdown clock at the NASA News Center at Kennedy on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024. The Crew-9 mission will send NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov to the International Space Station aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket.

David Forrest (right), deputy manager of the SE&I (Systems Engineering and Integration) Office in NASA’s Commercial Low Earth Orbit Development Program, with help of NASA’s CCP (Commercial Crew Program) Deputy Program Manager Dana Hutcherson and NASA Public Affairs Officer Steven Siceloff, raises the agency’s SpaceX Crew-9 mission flag near the countdown clock at the NASA News Center at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024. Forrest previously served as deputy manager for CCP’s SE&I Office at Kennedy. In the background is CCP’s Deputy Program Manager at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston Richard Jones (far left) and CCP program manager Steve Stich. The Crew-9 mission will send NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov to the International Space Station aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket.

From left, Richard Jones, CCP (Commercial Crew Program) deputy program manager at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston; Steve Stich, program manager for CCP; Dana Hutcherson, CCP deputy program manager at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida; and David Forrest, deputy manager, SE&I (Systems Engineering and Integration) Office, NASA’s Commercial Low Earth Orbit Development Program, pose with the agency’s SpaceX Crew-9 mission flag near the countdown clock at the NASA News Center at Kennedy on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024. Forrest previously served as deputy manager for CCP’s SE&I Office at Kennedy. The Crew-9 mission will send NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov to the International Space Station aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA's Jon Cowart prepares to talk to media about the progress of the agency's Commercial Crew Program CCP and its partners in Kennedy Space Center’s Press Site on Feb. 28 ahead of the second commercial resupply services mission for Space Exploration Technologies SpaceX to the International Space Station. Cowart is the deputy partner manager working with SpaceX as the company develops its Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule for crewed missions. Under a contract with NASA, SpaceX is targeted to fly at least 12 cargo missions to the space station through 2016. The company also is working with CCP to return America's capability to safely launch crews to low-Earth orbit destinations, including the space station, from U.S. soil around the middle of the decade. To learn more about CCP and its partners, go to www.nasa.gov_commercialcrew. Photo credit: NASA_Jim Grossmann

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA's Jon Cowart talks to media about the progress of the agency's Commercial Crew Program CCP and its partners in Kennedy Space Center’s Press Site on Feb. 28 ahead of the second commercial resupply services mission for Space Exploration Technologies SpaceX to the International Space Station. Cowart is the deputy partner manager working with SpaceX as the company develops its Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule for crewed missions. Under a contract with NASA, SpaceX is targeted to fly at least 12 cargo missions to the space station through 2016. The company also is working with CCP to return America's capability to safely launch crews to low-Earth orbit destinations, including the space station, from U.S. soil around the middle of the decade. To learn more about CCP and its partners, go to www.nasa.gov_commercialcrew. Photo credit: NASA_Jim Grossmann

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA's Jon Cowart talks to media about the progress of the agency's Commercial Crew Program CCP and its partners in Kennedy Space Center’s Press Site on Feb. 28 ahead of the second commercial resupply services mission for Space Exploration Technologies SpaceX to the International Space Station. Cowart is the deputy partner manager working with SpaceX as the company develops its Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule for crewed missions. Under a contract with NASA, SpaceX is targeted to fly at least 12 cargo missions to the space station through 2016. The company also is working with CCP to return America's capability to safely launch crews to low-Earth orbit destinations, including the space station, from U.S. soil around the middle of the decade. To learn more about CCP and its partners, go to www.nasa.gov_commercialcrew. Photo credit: NASA_Jim Grossmann

From left, Richard Jones, CCP (Commercial Crew Program) deputy program manager at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston; Steve Stich, program manager for CCP; Dana Hutcherson, CCP deputy program manager at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida; and Diana Oglesby, director, Strategic Integration and Management Division, Space Operations Mission Directorate, pose with the agency’s SpaceX Crew-9 mission flag near the countdown clock at the NASA News Center at the Kennedy on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024. Oglesby previously served as manager of CCP’s Program Control and Integration Office at Kennedy. The Crew-9 mission will send NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov to the International Space Station aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket.

NASA Commercial Crew Program (CCP) employees are photographed in front of Kennedy Space Center’s iconic countdown clock at the Press Site after the Crew-5 flag was raised on Oct. 3, 2022, in Florida. NASA’s SpaceX Crew-5 mission will carry NASA astronauts Josh Cassada and Nicole Aunapu Mann, Roscosmos cosmonaut Anna Kikina, and JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) to the International Space Station for a science expedition mission as part of the agency’s CCP. SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon Endurance spacecraft are scheduled to lift off from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A at noon EDT on Oct. 5, 2022.

NASA Commercial Crew Program (CCP) employees are photographed in front of Kennedy Space Center’s iconic countdown clock at the Press Site after the Crew-5 flag was raised on Oct. 3, 2022, in Florida. NASA’s SpaceX Crew-5 mission will carry NASA astronauts Josh Cassada and Nicole Aunapu Mann, Roscosmos cosmonaut Anna Kikina, and JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) to the International Space Station for a science expedition mission as part of the agency’s CCP. SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon Endurance spacecraft are scheduled to lift off from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A at noon EDT on Oct. 5, 2022.

NASA Commercial Crew Program (CCP) employees Tyrell Hawkins (right) and Henry May (second from right) raise the Crew-5 flag near the countdown clock at the Press Site at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Oct. 3, 2022. Next to May is his wife, and to the left is CCP Manager Steve Stich. NASA’s SpaceX Crew-5 mission will carry NASA astronauts Josh Cassada and Nicole Aunapu Mann, Roscosmos cosmonaut Anna Kikina, and JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) to the International Space Station for a science expedition mission as part of the agency’s CCP. SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon Endurance spacecraft are scheduled to lift off from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A at noon EDT on Oct. 5, 2022.

NASA Commercial Crew Program (CCP) employees Tyrell Hawkins (right) and Henry May (second from right) raise the Crew-5 flag near the countdown clock at the Press Site at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Oct. 3, 2022. Next to May is his wife, and to the left is CCP Manager Steve Stich. NASA’s SpaceX Crew-5 mission will carry NASA astronauts Josh Cassada and Nicole Aunapu Mann, Roscosmos cosmonaut Anna Kikina, and JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) to the International Space Station for a science expedition mission as part of the agency’s CCP. SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon Endurance spacecraft are scheduled to lift off from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A at noon EDT on Oct. 5, 2022.

NASA Commercial Crew Program (CCP) employees Tyrell Hawkins (left) and Henry May (right) raise the Crew-5 flag near the countdown clock at the Press Site at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Oct. 3, 2022. In the center is CCP Manager Steve Stich. NASA’s SpaceX Crew-5 mission will carry NASA astronauts Josh Cassada and Nicole Aunapu Mann, Roscosmos cosmonaut Anna Kikina, and JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) to the International Space Station for a science expedition mission as part of the agency’s CCP. SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon Endurance spacecraft are scheduled to lift off from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A at noon EDT on Oct. 5, 2022.

Deb Cole (second from right), CCP (Commercial Crew Program) technical manager, with help from NASA Public Affairs Officer Steven Siceloff, raises the agency’s SpaceX Crew-9 mission flag near the countdown clock at the NASA News Center at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024. In the background looking on is CCP Deputy Program Manager Dana Hutcherson (far left) at Kennedy and CCP Deputy Program Manager at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston Richard Jones. The Crew-9 mission will send NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov to the International Space Station aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket.

Kathy Lueders, manager, NASA Commercial Crew Program, speaks to members of the media during a prelaunch news conference with NASA, SpaceX and the 45th Weather Squadron leaders Thursday, Feb. 28, prior to the Saturday, March 2 launch of the SpaceX Demo-1 Commercial Crew Program (CCP) mission to the International Space Station. The inaugural flight of the SpaceX Crew Dragon, known as Demo-1, is scheduled to lift off from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A Saturday at 2:49 EST. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the uncrewed spacecraft on a mission designed to validate end-to-end systems and capabilities, leading to certification to fly crew. NASA has worked with SpaceX and Boeing in developing the Commercial Crew Program spacecraft to facilitate new human spaceflight systems launching from U.S. soil with the goal of safe, reliable and cost-effective access to low-Earth orbit destinations, such as the International Space Station.

Seen here is the “Launch America” banner for NASA’s Commercial Crew Program (CCP) on the iconic Vehicle Assembly Building at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Oct. 28, 2021. NASA and SpaceX are preparing for Crew-3 – the third crew rotation flight to the International Space Station for CCP – and part of that includes conducting a dress rehearsal ahead of launch. On Oct. 28, NASA’s SpaceX Crew-3 astronauts and launch teams rehearsed countdown operations, concluding with the Go/No-Go poll for Falcon-9 fueling. The Crew-3 mission will carry NASA astronauts Raja Chari, Tom Marshburn, and Kayla Barron, as well as ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Matthias Maurer to the space station for a six-month stay. SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon spacecraft are scheduled to lift off from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A no earlier than Nov. 6 at 11:36 p.m. EDT.

Seen here is the “Launch America” banner for NASA’s Commercial Crew Program (CCP) on the iconic Vehicle Assembly Building at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Oct. 28, 2021. NASA and SpaceX are preparing for Crew-3 – the third crew rotation flight to the International Space Station for CCP – and part of that includes conducting a dress rehearsal ahead of launch. On Oct. 28, NASA’s SpaceX Crew-3 astronauts and launch teams rehearsed countdown operations, concluding with the Go/No-Go poll for Falcon-9 fueling. The Crew-3 mission will carry NASA astronauts Raja Chari, Tom Marshburn, and Kayla Barron, as well as ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Matthias Maurer to the space station for a six-month stay. SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon spacecraft are scheduled to lift off from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A no earlier than Nov. 6 at 11:36 p.m. EDT.

Hans Koenigsmann, vice president, Build and Flight Reliability, SpaceX, speaks to members of the media during a prelaunch news conference with NASA, SpaceX and the 45th Weather Squadron leaders Thursday, Feb. 28, prior to the Saturday, March 2 launch of the SpaceX Demo-1 Commercial Crew Program (CCP) mission to the International Space Station. The inaugural flight of the SpaceX Crew Dragon, known as Demo-1, is scheduled to lift off from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A Saturday at 2:49 EST. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the uncrewed spacecraft on a mission designed to validate end-to-end systems and capabilities, leading to certification to fly crew. NASA has worked with SpaceX and Boeing in developing the Commercial Crew Program spacecraft to facilitate new human spaceflight systems launching from U.S. soil with the goal of safe, reliable and cost-effective access to low-Earth orbit destinations, such as the International Space Station.

In Kennedy Space Center’s Press Site auditorium, agency and industry leaders speak to members of the media on Friday, Feb. 22, during the post-flight readiness review briefing for the SpaceX Demo-1 Commercial Crew Program (CCP) mission to the International Space Station. Pictured is Norm Knight, deputy director, NASA Johnson Space Center Flight Operations. The inaugural uncrewed flight of the SpaceX Crew Dragon, known as Demo-1, is targeted to lift off from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A on Saturday, March 2. EST. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the Crew Dragon on a mission designed to validate end-to-end systems and capabilities, leading to certification to fly crew.

Joel Montalbano, deputy manager, International Space Station Program, speaks to members of the media during a prelaunch news conference with NASA, SpaceX and the 45th Weather Squadron leaders Thursday, Feb. 28, prior to the Saturday, March 2 launch of the SpaceX Demo-1 Commercial Crew Program (CCP) mission to the International Space Station. The inaugural flight of the SpaceX Crew Dragon, known as Demo-1, is scheduled to lift off from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A Saturday at 2:49 EST. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the uncrewed spacecraft on a mission designed to validate end-to-end systems and capabilities, leading to certification to fly crew. NASA has worked with SpaceX and Boeing in developing the Commercial Crew Program spacecraft to facilitate new human spaceflight systems launching from U.S. soil with the goal of safe, reliable and cost-effective access to low-Earth orbit destinations, such as the International Space Station.

Melody C. Lovin, launch weather officer, 45th Weather Squadron, speaks to members of the media during a prelaunch news conference with NASA, SpaceX and the 45th Weather Squadron leaders Thursday, Feb. 28, prior to the Saturday, March 2 launch of the SpaceX Demo-1 Commercial Crew Program (CCP) mission to the International Space Station. The inaugural flight of the SpaceX Crew Dragon, known as Demo-1, is scheduled to lift off from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A Saturday at 2:49 EST. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the uncrewed spacecraft on a mission designed to validate end-to-end systems and capabilities, leading to certification to fly crew. NASA has worked with SpaceX and Boeing in developing the Commercial Crew Program spacecraft to facilitate new human spaceflight systems launching from U.S. soil with the goal of safe, reliable and cost-effective access to low-Earth orbit destinations, such as the International Space Station.

Members of the media gather in the Kennedy Space Center’s Press Site auditorium during a prelaunch news conference with NASA, SpaceX and the 45th Weather Squadron leaders Thursday, Feb. 28, prior to the Saturday, March 2 launch of the SpaceX Demo-1 Commercial Crew Program (CCP) mission to the International Space Station. The inaugural flight of the SpaceX Crew Dragon, known as Demo-1, is scheduled to lift off from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A Saturday at 2:49 EST. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the uncrewed spacecraft on a mission designed to validate end-to-end systems and capabilities, leading to certification to fly crew. NASA has worked with SpaceX and Boeing in developing the Commercial Crew Program spacecraft to facilitate new human spaceflight systems launching from U.S. soil with the goal of safe, reliable and cost-effective access to low-Earth orbit destinations, such as the International Space Station.

Pat Forrester, chief, Astronaut Office, Johnson Space Center, speaks to members of the media during a prelaunch news conference with NASA, SpaceX and the 45th Weather Squadron leaders Thursday, Feb. 28, prior to the Saturday, March 2 launch of the SpaceX Demo-1 Commercial Crew Program (CCP) mission to the International Space Station. The inaugural flight of the SpaceX Crew Dragon, known as Demo-1, is scheduled to lift off from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A Saturday at 2:49 EST. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the uncrewed spacecraft on a mission designed to validate end-to-end systems and capabilities, leading to certification to fly crew. NASA has worked with SpaceX and Boeing in developing the Commercial Crew Program spacecraft to facilitate new human spaceflight systems launching from U.S. soil with the goal of safe, reliable and cost-effective access to low-Earth orbit destinations, such as the International Space Station.

MCGREGOR, Texas -- Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) completes a full-duration, full-thrust firing of its new SuperDraco engine prototype at the company’s Rocket Development Facility in McGregor, Texas. The firing was in preparation for the ninth milestone to be completed under SpaceX's funded Space Act Agreement (SAA) with NASA's Commercial Crew Program (CCP). SpaceX is working with CCP during Commercial Crew Development Round 2 (CCDev2) in order to mature the design and development of its Dragon spacecraft with the overall goal of accelerating a United States-led capability to the International Space Station. Eight SuperDracos would be built into the sidewalls of the Dragon capsule to carry astronauts to safety should an emergency occur during launch or ascent. The goal of CCP is to drive down the cost of space travel as well as open up space to more people than ever before by balancing industry’s own innovative capabilities with NASA's 50 years of human spaceflight experience. Six other aerospace companies also are maturing launch vehicle and spacecraft designs under CCDev2, including Alliant Techsystems Inc. (ATK), Blue Origin, The Boeing Co., Excalibur Almaz Inc., Sierra Nevada Corp. and United Launch Alliance (ULA). For more information, visit www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew

MCGREGOR, Texas -- Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) completes a full-duration, full-thrust firing of its new SuperDraco engine prototype at the company’s Rocket Development Facility in McGregor, Texas. The firing was in preparation for the ninth milestone to be completed under SpaceX's funded Space Act Agreement (SAA) with NASA's Commercial Crew Program (CCP). SpaceX is working with CCP during Commercial Crew Development Round 2 (CCDev2) in order to mature the design and development of its Dragon spacecraft with the overall goal of accelerating a United States-led capability to the International Space Station. Eight SuperDracos would be built into the sidewalls of the Dragon capsule to carry astronauts to safety should an emergency occur during launch or ascent. The goal of CCP is to drive down the cost of space travel as well as open up space to more people than ever before by balancing industry’s own innovative capabilities with NASA's 50 years of human spaceflight experience. Six other aerospace companies also are maturing launch vehicle and spacecraft designs under CCDev2, including Alliant Techsystems Inc. (ATK), Blue Origin, The Boeing Co., Excalibur Almaz Inc., Sierra Nevada Corp. and United Launch Alliance (ULA). For more information, visit www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew

MCGREGOR, Texas -- Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) completes a full-duration, full-thrust firing of its new SuperDraco engine prototype at the company’s Rocket Development Facility in McGregor, Texas. The firing was in preparation for the ninth milestone to be completed under SpaceX's funded Space Act Agreement (SAA) with NASA's Commercial Crew Program (CCP). SpaceX is working with CCP during Commercial Crew Development Round 2 (CCDev2) in order to mature the design and development of its Dragon spacecraft with the overall goal of accelerating a United States-led capability to the International Space Station. Eight SuperDracos would be built into the sidewalls of the Dragon capsule to carry astronauts to safety should an emergency occur during launch or ascent. The goal of CCP is to drive down the cost of space travel as well as open up space to more people than ever before by balancing industry’s own innovative capabilities with NASA's 50 years of human spaceflight experience. Six other aerospace companies also are maturing launch vehicle and spacecraft designs under CCDev2, including Alliant Techsystems Inc. (ATK), Blue Origin, The Boeing Co., Excalibur Almaz Inc., Sierra Nevada Corp. and United Launch Alliance (ULA). For more information, visit www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Media learn about the plans Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) has to take NASA astronauts to the International Space Station at Space Launch Complex-40 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. SpaceX is working to make its Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule safe for humans for NASA's Commercial Crew Program (CCP) under the Commercial Crew Development Round 2 (CCDev2) activities. SpaceX already is developing these systems under NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation System (COTS) Program to take supplies to the space station. Scott Henderson, director of SpaceX mission assurance, explained that the company is drafting designs to make the Dragon capsule crew-capable with life support systems while meeting CCP's safety requirements. One such option under discussion is a launch abort system that would push astronauts away from the launch pad in the event of an emergency, which is different than traditional pull systems. It's the freedom to develop innovative solutions such as this that CCP hopes will drive down the cost of space travel as well as open up space to more people than ever before. CCP, which is based at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, partnered with seven aerospace companies to mature launch vehicle and spacecraft designs under CCDev2, including Alliant Techsystems Inc. (ATK) of Promontory, Utah, Blue Origin of Kent, Wash., The Boeing Co., of Houston, Excalibur Almaz Inc. of Houston, Sierra Nevada Corp. of Louisville, Colo., Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) of Hawthorne, Calif., and United Launch Alliance (ULA) of Centennial, Colo. For more information, visit www.nasa.gov/exploration/commercial Photo credit: Jim Grossmann

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Media learn about the plans Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) has to take NASA astronauts to the International Space Station at Space Launch Complex-40 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. SpaceX is working to make its Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule safe for humans for NASA's Commercial Crew Program (CCP) under the Commercial Crew Development Round 2 (CCDev2) activities. SpaceX already is developing these systems under NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation System (COTS) Program to take supplies to the space station. Scott Henderson, director of SpaceX mission assurance, explained that the company is drafting designs to make the Dragon capsule crew-capable with life support systems while meeting CCP's safety requirements. One such option under discussion is a launch abort system that would push astronauts away from the launch pad in the event of an emergency, which is different than traditional pull systems. It's the freedom to develop innovative solutions such as this that CCP hopes will drive down the cost of space travel as well as open up space to more people than ever before. CCP, which is based at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, partnered with seven aerospace companies to mature launch vehicle and spacecraft designs under CCDev2, including Alliant Techsystems Inc. (ATK) of Promontory, Utah, Blue Origin of Kent, Wash., The Boeing Co., of Houston, Excalibur Almaz Inc. of Houston, Sierra Nevada Corp. of Louisville, Colo., Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) of Hawthorne, Calif., and United Launch Alliance (ULA) of Centennial, Colo. For more information, visit www.nasa.gov/exploration/commercial Photo credit: Jim Grossmann

In Kennedy Space Center’s Press Site auditorium, agency and industry leaders speak to members of the media on Friday, Feb. 22, during the post-flight readiness review briefing for the SpaceX Demo-1 Commercial Crew Program (CCP) mission to the International Space Station. From left are: Kathy Lueders, manager, NASA Commercial Crew Program; Hans Koenigsmann, vice president, Build and Flight Reliability, SpaceX; and Kirk Shireman, International Space Station Program manager. The inaugural uncrewed flight of the SpaceX Crew Dragon, known as Demo-1, is targeted to lift off from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A on Saturday, March 2. EST. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the Crew Dragon on a mission designed to validate end-to-end systems and capabilities, leading to certification to fly crew.

In Kennedy Space Center’s Press Site auditorium, agency and industry leaders speak to members of the media on Friday, Feb. 22, during the post-flight readiness review briefing for the SpaceX Demo-1 Commercial Crew Program (CCP) mission to the International Space Station. From left are: Josh Finch of NASA Communications; William Gerstenmaier, associate administrator, NASA Human Exploration and Operations; and Kathy Lueders, manager, NASA Commercial Crew Program. The inaugural uncrewed flight of the SpaceX Crew Dragon, known as Demo-1, is targeted to lift off from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A on Saturday, March 2. EST. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the Crew Dragon on a mission designed to validate end-to-end systems and capabilities, leading to certification to fly crew.

Steve Payne, launch integration manager, NASA’s Commercial Crew Program Ground and Mission Operations Office, speaks to members of the media Thursday, Feb. 28, in the Kennedy Space Center’s Mission Briefing Room of the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building. The briefing focused on launch of the SpaceX Demo-1 Commercial Crew Program mission to the International Space Station. The inaugural flight of the Crew Dragon, known as Demo-1, will be uncrewed, lifting off atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Saturday, March 2, at 2:49 a.m. EST. The mission is designed to validate end-to-end systems and capabilities, leading to certification to fly crew. NASA has worked with SpaceX and Boeing in developing the CCP spacecraft to facilitate new human spaceflight systems launching from U.S. soil with the goal of safe, reliable and cost-effective access to low-Earth orbit destinations such as the space station.

Carol Scott, deputy manager, NASA Commercial Crew Program Launch Vehicle Office, speaks to members of the media Thursday, Feb. 28, in the Kennedy Space Center’s Mission Briefing Room of the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building. The briefing focused on launch of the SpaceX Demo-1 Commercial Crew Program mission to the International Space Station. The inaugural flight of the Crew Dragon, known as Demo-1, will be uncrewed, lifting off atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Saturday, March 2, at 2:49 a.m. EST. The mission is designed to validate end-to-end systems and capabilities, leading to certification to fly crew. NASA has worked with SpaceX and Boeing in developing the CCP spacecraft to facilitate new human spaceflight systems launching from U.S. soil with the goal of safe, reliable and cost-effective access to low-Earth orbit destinations such as the space station.

In the Kennedy Space Center’s Press Site TV auditorium, NASA, SpaceX and the 45th Weather Squadron leaders speak to members of the media during a prelaunch news conference Thursday, Feb. 28, prior to the Saturday, March 2 launch of the SpaceX Demo-1 Commercial Crew Program (CCP) mission to the International Space Station. From left are: Stephanie Martin of NASA Communications, Kathy Lueders, manager, NASA’s Commercial Crew Program; Hans Koenigsmann, vice president, Build and Flight Reliability, SpaceX; Joel Montalbano, deputy manager, International Space Station Program; Pat Forrester, chief, Astronaut Office, Johnson Space Center; and Melody C. Lovin, launch weather officer, 45th Weather Squadron. The inaugural flight of the SpaceX Crew Dragon, known as Demo-1, is scheduled to lift off from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A Saturday at 2:49 EST. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the uncrewed spacecraft on a mission designed to validate end-to-end systems and capabilities, leading to certification to fly crew. NASA has worked with SpaceX and Boeing in developing the Commercial Crew Program spacecraft to facilitate new human spaceflight systems launching from U.S. soil with the goal of safe, reliable and cost-effective access to low-Earth orbit destinations, such as the International Space Station.

In the Kennedy Space Center’s Press Site TV auditorium, NASA, SpaceX and the 45th Weather Squadron leaders speak to members of the media during a prelaunch news conference Thursday, Feb. 28, prior to the Saturday, March 2 launch of the SpaceX Demo-1 Commercial Crew Program (CCP) mission to the International Space Station. From left are: Stephanie Martin of NASA Communications, Kathy Lueders, manager, NASA’s Commercial Crew Program; Hans Koenigsmann, vice president, Build and Flight Reliability, SpaceX; Joel Montalbano, deputy manager, International Space Station Program; Pat Forrester, chief, Astronaut Office, Johnson Space Center; and Melody C. Lovin, launch weather officer, 45th Weather Squadron. The inaugural flight of the SpaceX Crew Dragon, known as Demo-1, is scheduled to lift off from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A Saturday at 2:49 EST. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the uncrewed spacecraft on a mission designed to validate end-to-end systems and capabilities, leading to certification to fly crew. NASA has worked with SpaceX and Boeing in developing the Commercial Crew Program spacecraft to facilitate new human spaceflight systems launching from U.S. soil with the goal of safe, reliable and cost-effective access to low-Earth orbit destinations, such as the International Space Station.

Benji Reed, director of Crew Mission Management, SpaceX, speaks to members of the media Thursday, Feb. 28, in the Kennedy Space Center’s Mission Briefing Room of the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building. The briefing focused on launch of the SpaceX Demo-1 Commercial Crew Program mission to the International Space Station. The inaugural flight of the Crew Dragon, known as Demo-1, will be uncrewed, lifting off atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Saturday, March 2, at 2:49 a.m. EST. The mission is designed to validate end-to-end systems and capabilities, leading to certification to fly crew. NASA has worked with SpaceX and Boeing in developing the CCP spacecraft to facilitate new human spaceflight systems launching from U.S. soil with the goal of safe, reliable and cost-effective access to low-Earth orbit destinations such as the space station.

Benji Reed, director of Crew Mission Management, SpaceX, speaks to members of the media Thursday, Feb. 28, in the Kennedy Space Center’s Mission Briefing Room of the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building. The briefing focused on launch of the SpaceX Demo-1 Commercial Crew Program mission to the International Space Station. The inaugural flight of the Crew Dragon, known as Demo-1, will be uncrewed, lifting off atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Saturday, March 2, at 2:49 a.m. EST. The mission is designed to validate end-to-end systems and capabilities, leading to certification to fly crew. NASA has worked with SpaceX and Boeing in developing the CCP spacecraft to facilitate new human spaceflight systems launching from U.S. soil with the goal of safe, reliable and cost-effective access to low-Earth orbit destinations such as the space station.

Members of the media, along with NASA and SpaceX officials, gather in the Kennedy Space Center’s Mission Briefing Room of the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building on Thursday, Feb. 28. The briefing focused on launch of the SpaceX Demo-1 Commercial Crew Program mission to the International Space Station. The inaugural flight of the Crew Dragon, known as Demo-1, will be uncrewed, lifting off atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Saturday, March 2, at 2:49 a.m. EST. The mission is designed to validate end-to-end systems and capabilities, leading to certification to fly crew. NASA has worked with SpaceX and Boeing in developing the CCP spacecraft to facilitate new human spaceflight systems launching from U.S. soil with the goal of safe, reliable and cost-effective access to low-Earth orbit destinations such as the space station.

Members of the media, along with NASA and SpaceX officials, gather in the Kennedy Space Center’s Mission Briefing Room of the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building on Thursday, Feb. 28. The briefing focused on launch of the SpaceX Demo-1 Commercial Crew Program mission to the International Space Station. The inaugural flight of the Crew Dragon, known as Demo-1, will be uncrewed, lifting off atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Saturday, March 2, at 2:49 a.m. EST. The mission is designed to validate end-to-end systems and capabilities, leading to certification to fly crew. NASA has worked with SpaceX and Boeing in developing the CCP spacecraft to facilitate new human spaceflight systems launching from U.S. soil with the goal of safe, reliable and cost-effective access to low-Earth orbit destinations such as the space station.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The manager of NASA's Commercial Crew Program CCP, Ed Mango, hosts a virtual conversation, called a Tweet Chat, with Twitter followers from around the world. Those who follow www.twitter.com/commercial_crew had an hour-long opportunity to ask Mango questions about NASA’s efforts to get astronauts to low Earth orbit and the International Space Station aboard American rockets and spacecraft. Mango stuck to the social networking service's 140 character limit and answered dozens of questions. At left, is Brittani Sims, a member of the CCP team. The goal of CCP is to drive down the cost of space travel as well as open up space to more people than ever before by balancing industry’s own innovative capabilities with NASA's 50 years of human spaceflight experience. Seven aerospace companies are maturing launch vehicle and spacecraft designs under the program’s second round of development, called Commercial Crew Development Round 2 CCDev2), including Alliant Techsystems Inc. ATK, The Boeing Co., Excalibur Almaz Inc., Blue Origin, Sierra Nevada, Space Exploration Technologies SpaceX, and United Launch Alliance ULA. For more information, visit www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew. Image credit: NASA/Gianni Woods

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The manager of NASA's Commercial Crew Program CCP, Ed Mango, hosts a virtual conversation, called a Tweet Chat, with Twitter followers from around the world. Those who follow www.twitter.com/commercial_crew had an hour-long opportunity to ask Mango questions about NASA’s efforts to get astronauts to low Earth orbit and the International Space Station aboard American rockets and spacecraft. Mango stuck to the social networking service's 140 character limit and answered dozens of questions. At left, is Brittani Sims, a member of the CCP team. The goal of CCP is to drive down the cost of space travel as well as open up space to more people than ever before by balancing industry’s own innovative capabilities with NASA's 50 years of human spaceflight experience. Seven aerospace companies are maturing launch vehicle and spacecraft designs under the program’s second round of development, called Commercial Crew Development Round 2 CCDev2), including Alliant Techsystems Inc. ATK, The Boeing Co., Excalibur Almaz Inc., Blue Origin, Sierra Nevada, Space Exploration Technologies SpaceX, and United Launch Alliance ULA. For more information, visit www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew. Image credit: NASA/Gianni Woods

In Kennedy Space Center’s Press Site auditorium, agency and industry leaders speak to members of the media on Friday, Feb. 22, during the post-flight readiness review briefing for the SpaceX Demo-1 Commercial Crew Program (CCP) mission to the International Space Station. From left are: Josh Finch of NASA Communications and William Gerstenmaier, associate administrator, NASA Human Exploration and Operations. The inaugural uncrewed flight of the SpaceX Crew Dragon, known as Demo-1, is targeted to lift off from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A on Saturday, March 2. EST. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the Crew Dragon on a mission designed to validate end-to-end systems and capabilities, leading to certification to fly crew.

David Brady, ISS assistant program scientist, speaks to members of the media Thursday, Feb. 28, in the Kennedy Space Center’s Mission Briefing Room of the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building. The briefing focused on launch of the SpaceX Demo-1 Commercial Crew Program mission to the International Space Station. The inaugural flight of the Crew Dragon, known as Demo-1, will be uncrewed, lifting off atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Saturday, March 2, at 2:49 a.m. EST. The mission is designed to validate end-to-end systems and capabilities, leading to certification to fly crew. NASA has worked with SpaceX and Boeing in developing the CCP spacecraft to facilitate new human spaceflight systems launching from U.S. soil with the goal of safe, reliable and cost-effective access to low-Earth orbit destinations such as the space station.

Kelli Maloney, NASA Ground Systems lead engineer, speaks to members of the media Thursday, Feb. 28, in the Kennedy Space Center’s Mission Briefing Room of the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building. The briefing focused on launch of the SpaceX Demo-1 Commercial Crew Program mission to the International Space Station. The inaugural flight of the Crew Dragon, known as Demo-1, will be uncrewed, lifting off atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Saturday, March 2, at 2:49 a.m. EST. The mission is designed to validate end-to-end systems and capabilities, leading to certification to fly crew. NASA has worked with SpaceX and Boeing in developing the CCP spacecraft to facilitate new human spaceflight systems launching from U.S. soil with the goal of safe, reliable and cost-effective access to low-Earth orbit destinations such as the space station.

Moderator McManus Woodend, NASA Communications, speaks to members of the media Thursday, Feb. 28, in the Kennedy Space Center’s Mission Briefing Room of the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building. The briefing focused on launch of the SpaceX Demo-1 Commercial Crew Program mission to the International Space Station. The inaugural flight of the Crew Dragon, known as Demo-1, will be uncrewed, lifting off atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Saturday, March 2, at 2:49 a.m. EST. The mission is designed to validate end-to-end systems and capabilities, leading to certification to fly crew. NASA has worked with SpaceX and Boeing in developing the CCP spacecraft to facilitate new human spaceflight systems launching from U.S. soil with the goal of safe, reliable and cost-effective access to low-Earth orbit destinations such as the space station.

James Beahn, Launch Vehicle lead engineer, speaks to members of the media Thursday, Feb. 28, in the Kennedy Space Center’s Mission Briefing Room of the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building. The briefing focused on launch of the SpaceX Demo-1 Commercial Crew Program mission to the International Space Station. The inaugural flight of the Crew Dragon, known as Demo-1, will be uncrewed, lifting off atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Saturday, March 2, at 2:49 a.m. EST. The mission is designed to validate end-to-end systems and capabilities, leading to certification to fly crew. NASA has worked with SpaceX and Boeing in developing the CCP spacecraft to facilitate new human spaceflight systems launching from U.S. soil with the goal of safe, reliable and cost-effective access to low-Earth orbit destinations such as the space station.

James Beahn, Launch Vehicle lead engineer, speaks to members of the media Thursday, Feb. 28, in the Kennedy Space Center’s Mission Briefing Room of the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building. The briefing focused on launch of the SpaceX Demo-1 Commercial Crew Program mission to the International Space Station. The inaugural flight of the Crew Dragon, known as Demo-1, will be uncrewed, lifting off atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Saturday, March 2, at 2:49 a.m. EST. The mission is designed to validate end-to-end systems and capabilities, leading to certification to fly crew. NASA has worked with SpaceX and Boeing in developing the CCP spacecraft to facilitate new human spaceflight systems launching from U.S. soil with the goal of safe, reliable and cost-effective access to low-Earth orbit destinations such as the space station.

In Kennedy Space Center’s Press Site auditorium, agency and industry leaders speak to members of the media on Friday, Feb. 22, during the post-flight readiness review briefing for the SpaceX Demo-1 Commercial Crew Program (CCP) mission to the International Space Station. From left are: Josh Finch of NASA Communications; William Gerstenmaier, associate administrator, NASA Human Exploration and Operations; Kathy Lueders, manager, NASA Commercial Crew Program; Hans Koenigsmann, vice president, Build and Flight Reliability, SpaceX; Kirk Shireman, International Space Station Program manager; and Norm Knight, deputy director, NASA Johnson Space Center Flight Operations. The inaugural uncrewed flight of the SpaceX Crew Dragon, known as Demo-1, is targeted to lift off from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A on Saturday, March 2. EST. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the Crew Dragon on a mission designed to validate end-to-end systems and capabilities, leading to certification to fly crew.

In Kennedy Space Center’s Press Site auditorium, agency and industry leaders speak to members of the media on Friday, Feb. 22, during the post-flight readiness review briefing for the SpaceX Demo-1 Commercial Crew Program (CCP) mission to the International Space Station. From left are: Josh Finch of NASA Communications; William Gerstenmaier, associate administrator, NASA Human Exploration and Operations; Kathy Lueders, manager, NASA Commercial Crew Program; Hans Koenigsmann, vice president, Build and Flight Reliability, SpaceX; Kirk Shireman, International Space Station Program manager; and Norm Knight, deputy director, NASA Johnson Space Center Flight Operations. The inaugural uncrewed flight of the SpaceX Crew Dragon, known as Demo-1, is targeted to lift off from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A on Saturday, March 2. EST. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the Crew Dragon on a mission designed to validate end-to-end systems and capabilities, leading to certification to fly crew.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Andy Aldrin, director of business development for United Launch Alliance (ULA), talks to media about plans to launch NASA astronauts to the International Space Station in the Atlas Spaceflight Operations Center (ASOC) at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. ULA is working to make its Atlas V rocket safe for humans for NASA's Commercial Crew Program (CCP) under the Commercial Crew Development Round 2 (CCDev2) activities. Part of those plans will be to design and test an emergency detection system and crew access capabilities. ULA also is working with other aerospace system providers developing spacecraft that would launch atop the company's Atlas V rocket, such as Blue Origin, Sierra Nevada and The Boeing Co. CCP, which is based at the adjacent NASA's Kennedy Space Center, is partnering with industry to take crews to the station or other low Earth orbit destinations. Aldrin explained that the goal of ULA will be to develop a human spaceflight capability without altering rocket's proven design and successful track record. It's the freedom to develop innovative solutions such as this that CCP hopes will drive down the cost of space travel as well as open up space to more people than ever before. Seven aerospace companies are maturing launch vehicle and spacecraft designs under CCDev2, including Alliant Techsystems Inc. (ATK) of Promontory, Utah, Blue Origin of Kent, Wash., The Boeing Co., of Houston, Excalibur Almaz Inc. of Houston, Sierra Nevada Corp. of Louisville, Colo., Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) of Hawthorne, Calif., and United Launch Alliance (ULA) of Centennial, Colo. For more information, visit www.nasa.gov/exploration/commercial Photo credit: Jim Grossmann

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- This is an artist's conception of a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket being considered for NASA's Commercial Crew Program (CCP). In 2011, NASA and ULA of Englewood, Colo., entered into an unfunded Space Act Agreement during Commercial Crew Development Round 2 (CCDev2) activities to mature the design and development of a crew transportation system with the overall goal of accelerating a United States-led capability to the International Space Station. The goal of CCP is to drive down the cost of space travel as well as open up space to more people than ever before by balancing industry’s own innovative capabilities with NASA's 50 years of human spaceflight experience. Six other aerospace companies also are maturing launch vehicle and spacecraft designs under CCDev2, including Alliant Techsystems Inc. (ATK), Blue Origin, The Boeing Co., Excalibur Almaz Inc., Sierra Nevada Corp., and Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX). For more information, visit www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew. Image credit: United Launch Alliance

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- This is an artist's conception of the Dream Chaser spacecraft integrated with an Atlas V rocket. Dream Chaser is under development by Sierra Nevada of Centennial, Colo., for NASA's Commercial Crew Program (CCP). In 2011, NASA selected Sierra Nevada during Commercial Crew Development Round 2 (CCDev2) activities to mature the design and development of a crew transportation system with the overall goal of accelerating a United States-led capability to the International Space Station. United Launch Alliance's Atlas V also is being considered under CCDev2. The goal of CCP is to drive down the cost of space travel as well as open up space to more people than ever before by balancing industry’s own innovative capabilities with NASA's 50 years of human spaceflight experience. Five other aerospace companies also are maturing launch vehicle and spacecraft designs under CCDev2, including Alliant Techsystems Inc. (ATK), The Boeing Co., Excalibur Almaz Inc., Blue Origin, and Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX). For more information, visit www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew. Image credit: Sierra Nevada Corp.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Twitter page of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program CCP buzzes with activity as program manager, Ed Mango, hosts a virtual conversation, called a Tweet Chat, with followers from around the world. Those who follow www.twitter.com/commercial_crew had an hour-long opportunity to ask Mango questions about NASA’s efforts to get astronauts to low Earth orbit and the International Space Station aboard American rockets and spacecraft. Mango stuck to the social networking service's 140 character limit and answered dozens of questions. The goal of CCP is to drive down the cost of space travel as well as open up space to more people than ever before by balancing industry’s own innovative capabilities with NASA's 50 years of human spaceflight experience. Seven aerospace companies are maturing launch vehicle and spacecraft designs under the program’s second round of development, called Commercial Crew Development Round 2 CCDev2), including Alliant Techsystems Inc. ATK, The Boeing Co., Excalibur Almaz Inc., Blue Origin, Sierra Nevada, Space Exploration Technologies SpaceX, and United Launch Alliance ULA. For more information, visit www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew. Image credit: NASA/Gianni Woods

NASA astronauts who will be the first humans to fly aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft recently toured the company's Rocket Development Test Facility in McGregor, Texas, on Oct. 16, 2018. Astronauts Bob Behnken, and Doug Hurley, at left, are set to crew SpaceX's Demo-2 flight test in June 2019, which will be the first flight of Crew Dragon with people onboard. Astronauts Victor Glover, and Mike Hopkins, at right, will crew SpaceX's first regular mission to the International Space Station, following Demo-2 and NASA's certification of SpaceX commercial crew systems.

NASA astronauts who will be the first humans to fly aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft recently toured the company's Rocket Development Test Facility in McGregor, Texas, on Oct. 16, 2018. Astronauts Bob Behnken, at right, and Doug Hurley are set to crew SpaceX's Demo-2 flight test in June 2019, which will be the first flight of Crew Dragon with people onboard. Astronauts Victor Glover, behind Behnken, and Mike Hopkins, at left, will crew SpaceX's first regular mission to the International Space Station, following Demo-2 and NASA's certification of SpaceX commercial crew systems.

NASA astronauts who will be the first humans to fly aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft recently toured the company's Rocket Development Test Facility in McGregor, Texas, on Oct. 16, 2018. Astronauts Bob Behnken, pictured, and Doug Hurley are set to crew SpaceX's Demo-2 flight test in June 2019, which will be the first flight of Crew Dragon with people onboard. Astronauts Victor Glover and Mike Hopkins will crew SpaceX's first regular mission to the International Space Station, following Demo-2 and NASA's certification of SpaceX commercial crew systems.

NASA astronauts who will be the first humans to fly aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft recently toured the company's Rocket Development Test Facility in McGregor, Texas, on Oct. 16, 2018. Astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley, pictured at right, are set to crew SpaceX's Demo-2 flight test in June 2019, which will be the first flight of Crew Dragon with people onboard. Astronauts Victor Glover, pictured at left, and Mike Hopkins will crew SpaceX's first regular mission to the International Space Station, following Demo-2 and NASA's certification of SpaceX commercial crew systems.

NASA astronauts who will be the first humans to fly aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft recently toured the company's Rocket Development Test Facility in McGregor, Texas, on Oct. 16, 2018. Astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley are set to crew SpaceX's Demo-2 flight test in June 2019, which will be the first flight of Crew Dragon with people onboard. Astronauts Victor Glover, pictured, and Mike Hopkins will crew SpaceX's first regular mission to the International Space Station, following Demo-2 and NASA's certification of SpaceX commercial crew systems.

NASA astronauts who will be the first humans to fly aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft recently toured the company's Rocket Development Test Facility in McGregor, Texas, on Oct. 16, 2018. Astronauts Bob Behnken, at left, and Doug Hurley, at right, are set to crew SpaceX's Demo-2 flight test in June 2019, which will be the first flight of Crew Dragon with people onboard. Astronauts Victor Glover and Mike Hopkins will crew SpaceX's first regular mission to the International Space Station, following Demo-2 and NASA's certification of SpaceX commercial crew systems.

NASA astronauts who will be the first humans to fly aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft recently toured the company's Rocket Development Test Facility in McGregor, Texas, on Oct. 16, 2018. Astronauts Bob Behnken, second from left, and Doug Hurley are set to crew SpaceX's Demo-2 flight test in June 2019, which will be the first flight of Crew Dragon with people onboard. Astronauts Victor Glover, far right, and Mike Hopkins, at left, will crew SpaceX's first regular mission to the International Space Station, following Demo-2 and NASA's certification of SpaceX commercial crew systems.

NASA astronauts who will be the first humans to fly aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft recently toured the company's Rocket Development Test Facility in McGregor, Texas, on Oct. 16, 2018. Astronauts Bob Behnken, center, and Doug Hurley are set to crew SpaceX's Demo-2 flight test in June 2019, which will be the first flight of Crew Dragon with people onboard. Astronauts Victor Glover, far right, and Mike Hopkins, at left, will crew SpaceX's first regular mission to the International Space Station, following Demo-2 and NASA's certification of SpaceX commercial crew systems.

NASA astronauts who will be the first humans to fly aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft recently toured the company's Rocket Development Test Facility in McGregor, Texas, on Oct. 16, 2018. Astronauts Bob Behnken, far right, and Doug Hurley are set to crew SpaceX's Demo-2 flight test in June 2019, which will be the first flight of Crew Dragon with people onboard. Astronauts Victor Glover, behind Behnken, and Mike Hopkins, at left, will crew SpaceX's first regular mission to the International Space Station, following Demo-2 and NASA's certification of SpaceX commercial crew systems.

NASA astronauts who will be the first humans to fly aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft recently toured the company's Rocket Development Test Facility in McGregor, Texas, on Oct. 16, 2018. Astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley are set to crew SpaceX's Demo-2 flight test in June 2019, which will be the first flight of Crew Dragon with people onboard. Astronauts Victor Glover, at left, and Mike Hopkins, at right, will crew SpaceX's first regular mission to the International Space Station, following Demo-2 and NASA's certification of SpaceX commercial crew systems.

NASA astronauts who will be the first humans to fly aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft recently toured the company's Rocket Development Test Facility in McGregor, Texas, on Oct. 16, 2018. Astronauts Bob Behnken, and Doug Hurley, at left, are set to crew SpaceX's Demo-2 flight test in June 2019, which will be the first flight of Crew Dragon with people onboard. Astronauts Victor Glover, and Mike Hopkins, at right, will crew SpaceX's first regular mission to the International Space Station, following Demo-2 and NASA's certification of SpaceX commercial crew systems.

NASA astronauts who will be the first humans to fly aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft recently toured the company's Rocket Development Test Facility in McGregor, Texas, on Oct. 16, 2018. Astronauts Bob Behnken, at right, and Doug Hurley are set to crew SpaceX's Demo-2 flight test in June 2019, which will be the first flight of Crew Dragon with people onboard. Astronauts Victor Glover, and Mike Hopkins, at left, will crew SpaceX's first regular mission to the International Space Station, following Demo-2 and NASA's certification of SpaceX commercial crew systems.

NASA astronauts who will be the first humans to fly aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft recently toured the company's Rocket Development Test Facility in McGregor, Texas, on Oct. 16, 2018. Astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley are set to crew SpaceX's Demo-2 flight test in June 2019, which will be the first flight of Crew Dragon with people onboard. Astronauts Victor Glover, pictured, and Mike Hopkins will crew SpaceX's first regular mission to the International Space Station, following Demo-2 and NASA's certification of SpaceX commercial crew systems.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- This graphic depicts the patriotic endeavor of NASA's three Commercial Crew Program, or CCP, partners. The Boeing Company of Houston, Sierra Nevada Corporation, or SNC, of Louisville, Colo., and Space Exploration Technologies, or SpaceX, of Hawthorne, Calif., are working under the agency's Commercial Crew Integrated Capability, or CCiCap, initiative and Certification Products Contract, or CPC, phase to develop spaceflight capabilities that eventually could provide launch services to transport NASA astronauts to the International Space Station from U.S. soil. Shown along the bottom, from left, are: Boeing's integrated CST-100 spacecraft and United Launch Alliance, or ULA, Atlas V rocket SNC's integrated Dream Chaser spacecraft and Atlas V and SpaceX's integrated Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket. In the center are artist depictions of company spacecraft in orbit. At the top is NASA's destination for crew transportation in low-Earth orbit, the International Space Station. For more information, visit www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew. Image credit: NASA

LAS VEGAS -- The Boeing Company tests the forward heat shield FHS jettison system of its CST-100 spacecraft at the Bigelow Aerospace facility in Las Vegas as part of an agreement with NASA's Commercial Crew Program CCP during Commercial Crew Development Round 2 CCDev2) activities. The FHS will protect the spacecraft's parachutes, rendezvous-and-docking sensor packages, and docking mechanism during ascent and re-entry. During a mission to low Earth orbit, the shield will be jettisoned after re-entry heating, allowing the spacecraft's air bags to deploy for a safe landing. In 2011, NASA selected Boeing for CCDev2 to mature the design and development of a crew transportation system with the overall goal of accelerating a United States-led capability to the International Space Station. The goal of CCP is to drive down the cost of space travel as well as open up space to more people than ever before by balancing industry’s own innovative capabilities with NASA's 50 years of human spaceflight experience. Six other aerospace companies also were selected to mature launch vehicle and spacecraft designs under CCDev2, including Alliant Techsystems Inc. ATK, Excalibur Almaz Inc., Blue Origin, Sierra Nevada Corp. SNC, Space Exploration Technologies SpaceX, and United Launch Alliance ULA. For more information, visit www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew. Image credit: Boeing The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program is developing the necessary ground systems, infrastructure and operational approaches required to safely process, assemble, transport and launch the next generation of rockets and spacecraft in support of NASA’s exploration objectives. Future work also will replace the antiquated communications, power and vehicle access resources with modern efficient systems. Some of the utilities and systems slated for replacement have been used since the VAB opened in 1965. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/systems/ground/index.html Photo credit: Boeing

Crew-4 astronauts, from left, Jessica Watkins, Bob Hines, Kjell Lindgren, and Samantha Cristoforetti stand inside the crew access arm at Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A during a dry dress rehearsal on April 20, 2022. Reflected and lit up in the background is NASA’s Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft for the Artemis I mission at Launch Complex 39B. SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, with the company’s Crew Dragon, named Freedom by the Crew-4 crew, is targeted for liftoff no earlier than 4:15 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, April 26, 2022, from Pad 39A. The Crew-4 mission will carry the astronauts to the International Space Station as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.

The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with the company’s Crew Dragon atop, lifts off from Launch Pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-4 mission on April 27, 2022, at 3:52 a.m. EDT. Aboard the Dragon are NASA astronauts Kjell Lindgren, Bob Hines, and Jessica Watkins, and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti. The spacecraft will carry the Crew-4 astronauts to the International Space Station as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. The Dragon spacecraft, named Freedom by the mission’s crew, is scheduled to dock to the space station today at 8:15 p.m. EDT.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the company's Dragon spacecraft launches NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 mission to the International Space Station with NASA astronauts Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt, and Jeanette Epps, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin aboard at 10:53 p.m. EST on Sunday, March 3, 2024, from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 mission is the eighth crew rotation mission with SpaceX to the station, and the ninth flight of Dragon with people as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program.

Crew-4 astronauts wave after walking out through the double doors below the Neil A. Armstrong Building’s Astronaut Crew Quarters at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on April 27, 2022. They will make their way to the customized Tesla Model X cars that will take them to their spacecraft at Launch Complex 39A. From left are: mission specialist Jessica Watkins, pilot Bob Hines, commander Kjell Lindgren, and mission specialist Samantha Cristoforetti. SpaceX’s Crew Dragon, powered by the company’s Falcon 9 rocket, will carry the four-person crew to the International Space Station as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. Crew-4 is scheduled to launch today at 3:52 a.m. EDT, from Pad 39A at Kennedy.

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 crew member NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick smiles in the crew suit-up room inside the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Sunday, March 3, 2024. The Crew-8 crew members are preparing for their launch to the International Space Station aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft atop the Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A 10:53 p.m. EST on Sunday, March 3, 2024.

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 crew members wave to family and friends as they prepare to depart the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida for nearby Space Launch Complex-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station for launch of Crew-9 on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. NASA astronaut Nick Hague (lright) and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov will launch to the International Space Station aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket. Launch is targeted for 1:17 p.m. EDT for the ninth crew rotation mission with SpaceX to the space station as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the company's Dragon spacecraft launches NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 mission to the International Space Station with NASA astronauts Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt, and Jeanette Epps, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin aboard at 10:53 p.m. EST on Sunday, March 3, 2024, from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 mission is the eighth crew rotation mission with SpaceX to the station, and the ninth flight of Dragon with people as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program.

SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 mission arrives at SpaceX’s hangar at Space Launch Complex-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, after a short journey from a nearby processing facility. NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov will launch to the International Space Station aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket no earlier than 2:05 p.m. EDT Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. Crew-9 is the ninth crew rotation mission with SpaceX to the space station as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program.

After suit-up and final fit checks, NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 astronauts participate in a traditional game of cards inside the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center crew in Florida on Sunday, March 3, 2024. The crew members are preparing for launch to the International Space Station aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft atop the Falcon 9 rocket 10:53 p.m. EST on March 3, 2024, from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A.

The signatures of NASA astronauts Michael Barratt, Matthew Dominick, and Jeanette Epps, along with Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin are photographed alongside NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 mission insignia inside the Astronaut Crew Quarters in the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Monday, February 26, 2024. NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 mission is the eighth crew rotation mission of the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket to the International Space Station as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program and is scheduled to launch at 12:04 a.m. EST on Friday, March 1, from Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the company's Dragon spacecraft lifts off on NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 mission to the International Space Station with NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov aboard Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, from Space Launch Complex-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Crew-9 is the ninth crew rotation mission of the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket to the space station as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program. Hague and Gorbunov launched at 1:17 p.m. EDT to begin a mission aboard the orbital outpost lasting about five months.

Crew members of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 mission to the International Space Station from right to left NASA astronauts Michael Barratt, Matthew Dominick, and Jeanette Epps, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin, stand before members of the news media at the Launch and Landing Facility at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. The Crew-8 mission is slated to launch aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, powered by the company’s Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A no earlier than 12:04 a.m. EST on Friday, March 1, 2024.

Crew-4 astronauts Kjell Lindgren, Samantha Cristoforetti, Bob Hines, and Jessica Watkins wave to their families outside of the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida before getting into the customized Tesla Model X vehicles that will transport them to their spacecraft at Launch Complex 39A. SpaceX’s Crew Dragon, powered by the company’s Falcon 9 rocket, will carry the four-person crew to the International Space Station as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. Crew-4 is scheduled to launch today at 3:52 a.m. EDT, from Pad 39A at Kennedy.

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 crew members, NASA astronaut Nick Hague (left) and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, participate in a countdown dress rehearsal inside the crew suit-up room of the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, to prepare for the upcoming Crew-9 launch. Hague and Gorbunov will launch to the International Space Station aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket. Launch is targeted for 1:17 p.m. EDT Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, from Space Launch Complex-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Crew-9 is the ninth crew rotation mission with SpaceX to the space station as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program.

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 crew member Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov walks out of the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida ahead of launch on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Gorbunov will launch to the International Space Station aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket. Launch is targeted for 1:17 p.m. EDT from Space Launch Complex-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Crew-9 is the ninth crew rotation mission with SpaceX to the space station as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program.

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 crew members walk out of the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida ahead of launch on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. NASA astronaut Nick Hague (right) and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov will launch to the International Space Station aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket. Launch is targeted for 1:17 p.m. EDT from Space Launch Complex-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Crew-9 is the ninth crew rotation mission with SpaceX to the space station as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program.

Representatives from NASA participate in a media event at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Saturday, Sept. 21, upon the arrival of NASA astronaut Nick Hague, commander, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, mission specialist, in advance of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 mission to the International Space Station as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program. Participants include Kelvin Manning, Kennedy Space Center deputy director, and Dana Hutcherson, deputy manager, NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. Launch is targeted for no earlier than 2:05 p.m. EDT Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft will launch on a Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with the company’s Crew Dragon atop, lifts off from Launch Pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-4 mission on April 27, 2022, at 3:52 a.m. EDT. Aboard the Dragon are NASA astronauts Kjell Lindgren, Bob Hines, and Jessica Watkins, and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti. The spacecraft will carry the Crew-4 astronauts to the International Space Station as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. The Dragon spacecraft, named Freedom by the mission’s crew, is scheduled to dock to the space station today at 8:15 p.m. EDT.

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 crew members are seated inside the crew suit-up room in the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida during a countdown dress rehearsal on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024. Seated from left are NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov. Hague and Gorbunov will launch to the International Space Station aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket. Launch is targeted for 1:17 p.m. EDT Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, from Space Launch Complex-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Crew-9 is the ninth crew rotation mission with SpaceX to the space station as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program.

SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, with the Dragon spacecraft atop, is vertical at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A in Florida on Monday, Feb. 26, 2024, ahead of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 launch to the International Space Station. The eighth crew rotation mission with SpaceX and the ninth flight of Dragon with people as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program is slated to carry NASA astronauts Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt, and Jeanette Epps, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin to the station from Launch Complex 39A no earlier than 12:04 a.m. EST on March 1, 2024.

NASA astronaut Nick Hague is photographed in his SpaceX spacesuit inside the crew suit-up room in the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida ahead of launch of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 mission on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov will launch to the International Space Station aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket. Launch is targeted for 1:17 p.m. EDT from Space Launch Complex-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Crew-9 is the ninth crew rotation mission with SpaceX to the space station as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program.

Representatives from NASA participate in a media event at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Saturday, Sept. 21, upon the arrival of NASA astronaut Nick Hague, commander, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, mission specialist, in advance of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 mission to the International Space Station as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program. Participants include Kelvin Manning, Kennedy Space Center deputy director, and Dana Hutcherson, deputy manager, NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. Launch is targeted for no earlier than 2:05 p.m. EDT Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft will launch on a Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

NASA Press Secretary Faith McKie participates in the agency’s Administrator Media Briefing inside the John Holliman Auditorium of the News Center at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, ahead of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 mission to the International Space Station. The launch is targeted for 12:04 a.m. EST, Friday, March 1, from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy and will carry NASA astronauts Commander Matthew Dominick, Pilot Michael Barratt, and Mission Specialist Jeanette Epps, along with Roscosmos cosmonaut Mission Specialist Alexander Grebenkin to the orbiting laboratory for a stay of about six months as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program.

Crew members of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 mission to the International Space Station from right to left NASA astronauts Jeanette Epps, Matthew Dominick, and Michael Barratt, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin, stand before members of the news media at the Launch and Landing Facility at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. The Crew-8 mission is slated to launch aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, powered by the company’s Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A no earlier than 12:04 a.m. EST on Friday, March 1, 2024.

The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with the company’s Crew Dragon atop, lifts off from Launch Pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-4 mission on April 27, 2022, at 3:52 a.m. EDT. Aboard the Dragon are NASA astronauts Kjell Lindgren, Bob Hines, and Jessica Watkins, and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti. The spacecraft will carry the Crew-4 astronauts to the International Space Station as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. The Dragon spacecraft, named Freedom by the mission’s crew, is scheduled to dock to the space station today at 8:15 p.m. EDT.

Crew-4 mission astronauts, from left, Jessica Watkins, Bob Hines, Kjell Lindgren, and Samantha Cristoforetti relax in the suit room in the Astronaut Crew Quarters inside Kennedy Space Center’s Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building on April 27, 2022. A team of SpaceX suit technicians assisted the crew as they put on their custom-fitted spacesuits and checked the suits for leaks. The astronauts will launch aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon, powered by the company’s Falcon 9 rocket, to the International Space Station as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. Crew-4 is scheduled to lift off today at 3:52 a.m. EDT from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy.

Crew-4 astronauts, from left, Jessica Watkins, mission specialist; Bob Hines, pilot; Kjell Lindgren, commander and Samantha Cristoforetti, mission specialist, are positioned inside SpaceX’s Crew Dragon, named Freedom by the Crew-4 crew, during a dry dress rehearsal at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on April 20, 2022. Crew-4 will launch the astronauts to the International Space Station as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. Liftoff is targeted for 5:26 a.m. EDT on Saturday, April 23, 2022, from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy.

Dana Hutcherson, deputy program manager, Commercial Crew Program, NASA’s Kennedy, delivers remarks to members of the news media during crew arrival for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 mission at the Launch and Landing Facility at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. The Crew-8 mission will send NASA astronauts Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt, and Jeanette Epps, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin, to the International Space Station aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft on the company’s Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A no earlier than 12:04 a.m. EST Friday, March 1, 2024.

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 crew members wave to family and friends as they prepare to depart the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida for nearby Space Launch Complex-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station for launch of Crew-9 on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. NASA astronaut Nick Hague (lright) and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov will launch to the International Space Station aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket. Launch is targeted for 1:17 p.m. EDT for the ninth crew rotation mission with SpaceX to the space station as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program.

Members of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 from right to left NASA astronaut Jeanette Epps and Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin check their SpaceX spacesuit in the crew suit-up room inside the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Saturday, March 2, 2024. The Crew-8 crew members are preparing for their launch to the International Space Station aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft atop the Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A 10:53 p.m. EST on Sunday, March 3, 2024.